In mine, most people behave as though he is. To a large extent, he behaves as though he is. That leaves me out as the oddball. I only joined this place a little over 3 months ago. First week here and I’m told of various unwritten rules – “do not go home without speaking to him” and “do not go out for lunch when he is in”, are 2 of the more jolting starters. Of course, with businesses in various parts of the world, he only gets in here in the KL office (and HQ) roughly a week in a month. At first glance, this seems tolerable, violation of personal liberties notwithstanding. But it slowly gets ridiculous, as one finds his lieutenants duplicating his style. So, in his absence, one is expected to “speak to the MD before you leave for the day”. This one I broke, after about a week. I dont bother anymore, as allowing myself to be dragged into this mindless practice is to step into an office in the abyss somewhere. The MD you see, would tell you she wants to discuss some matters with you, but would not tell you when she’d like to do it. So you wait. And wait. And wait. That was week 1. After week 2, I just packed up and left when I feel it is time to go. So I ignored one little god, but the more senior god is in town today. I am expected to dust off my worship apparatus and lay them at the altar again – no lunch out of the office, no leaving the office, the unbelievable starts again. The worst part I guess, is that the group is such a has-been. None of its businesses belong in the top half of their respective industries. Only maybe 1 or 2 of its CEOs are recognised and respected. It is not an employer of choice, and the news it makes on the business pages reinforce the message that it is a has-been. Maybe that’s why the hang ups with rules and regulations, written and/or unwritten. My take is that when an organisation is bereft of substance, it turns to form to make itself feel good. Justifying its own existence. Justifying the senior management’s existence.
Some of my friends know of my frustrations with this new company I’m with. Certainly Chin Hong (my wife) does. As do Choon Tian, an ex-colleague and church friend with whom I have lunch several times a week, and Tuck Sun, James, Alex, and many others Chooi lawyers (my ex-colleagues), with whom I go out for drinks every other week or so. This morning, Choon Tian advised me to seek God’s help in dealing with my frustrations. It’s the same old questionof knowing the right thing to do and actually doing the right thing, I guess. I have, I think, at least 2 leads as far as options go. I dont know if God would allow either of these leads to develop into concrete alternatives. After all, when the present job came up, I prayed about it and it appeared that God opened this one up. Why has something God appears to have opened up, turned out to be such a frustration and should I ask Him to open up yet another door? I guess Choon Tian is right. I need to go to God to see what I should do about god.
“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)
Ante 